With the holiday season in full swing, we’re finding ourselves engaging in all kinds of giving. Of course, we’re trying to find the perfect gift for our family and friends. We’re also carving out extra time to spend with or care for those who may be alone or need extra support, shopping for Angel Tree families, and making annual donations to the charitable organizations that matter most to us. Especially this time of year, giving comes in many forms.

We know that giving helps others. You can make a big difference in this world by offering time and support to friends and family, volunteering for organizations, or donating to charities.

But did you know it can also be good for your own health?

Let’s get into a little science. Research shows that giving can boost your physical and mental health in numerous ways.

Research in the journal Science published in 2008, for example, showed that spending money on charities was linked with increased levels of happiness, while money spent on personal expenses or new stuff had no effect on a person’s happiness levels.

The 2022 World Happiness Report, which collected charitable giving and well-being data from around the world, found that even after controlling for wealth and other measures of prosperity, donating money is one of the six strongest predictors of life satisfaction.
Here are some ways giving can be good for your mental health:

A smile isn’t the only reaction that comes from gift-giving. There’s also a chemical response that takes place in your body in response to just doing something nice.

As you help someone or give a gift, your brain secretes “feel good” chemicals such as:

The joy that comes from giving is one of the most direct advantages to mental health. Giving, whether a modest present or a significant gesture, makes us feel happy and satisfied, which can improve our mood and general well-being.

Want to melt away stress? The best solution may be to help someone else. Gift-giving or volunteering can reduce your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that can make you feel overwhelmed or anxious. So, givers frequently have reduced stress and anxiety levels.

Perhaps because of such positive feelings, giving may decrease your risk of depression and depressive symptoms such as sadness or lack of energy.

One study of older adults found that those who helped their loved ones experienced greater feelings of personal control over their lives. This feeling, in turn, decreased the likelihood that they would experience depressive symptoms.

Another study on people coping with grief after the loss of a spouse, found that those who provided practical assistance to others (such as money, transportation, or help with chores) recovered more quickly from depressive symptoms caused by their grief.

Depression and lack of self-esteem have both been linked with heart disease and other health conditions. This link may partially explain why volunteering can lead to both better mental health and better physical health.

Research on middle-aged and older volunteers, for example, found that they appear to have less belly fat, better cholesterol levels and lower blood sugar, compared with non-volunteers.

Research in the journal Health Psychology found that three weeks of charitable giving was enough to lower blood pressure scores among a group of older adults. In fact, the research found that the blood pressure improvements caused by prosocial spending were similar to those associated with medication for high blood pressure or taking up a new exercise routine.

Giving makes you feel grateful and heightens our awareness of the blessings in our own lives. It can lead to greater gratitude and sentiments of appreciation.

Giving also improves our sense of meaning and fulfilment in life, which raises our degree of general life satisfaction.

As we enjoy one of the most joyful times of the year, take a moment to look for those individuals, families, or communities you can bless with your time, talents, or gifts this holiday season. You will find that you, as the giver, benefit right along with the receiver – in many ways!

This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security. The opinions expressed are those of the Saling Wealth Advisors’ Management Investment Team and are subject to change without notice.

Saling Wealth Advisors (“SWA”) is an independent SEC registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only. More information about SWA including our advisory services, fees, and objectives can be found in our Form ADV Part 2A, which is available upon request.